Hours after the Nigerian Army suspended the operations of the United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF) in the North-East, alleging that it abdicated its primary duty of catering for the wellbeing of children and the vulnerable through humanitarian activities and now engages in training selected persons for clandestine activities to continue sabotaging the counter-terrorism efforts, the Theatre command has lifted the suspension.
In a statement by the spokesperson of the Theatre Command, Operation Lafiya Dole, Col Onyema Nwachukwu on Saturday, the Army noting that the decision to call off the suspension was reached after an emergency meeting held with representatives of UNICEF on Friday following intervention by well meaning and concerned Nigerians.
The Theatre Command said that it admonished the representatives of the organisation to desist from activities inimical to Nigeria’s national security and capable of undermining ongoing fight against terrorism and insurgency.
It further urged UNICEF representatives to ensure they share information with relevant authorities whenever induction or training of new staff is being conducted in the theatre.
“After extensive deliberations on the need to seek modalities to work harmoniously with the security agencies in the theatre of operation, the Theatre Command has henceforth lifted the three months suspension earlier imposed on UNICEF activities in North Eastern Nigeria,” the statement read.
Temidayo Taiwo-Sidiq is a Journalist, Political Analyst and Satirist with major interest in Nigerian Politics, Governance and Sports.
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